Project: TACT III (Transnational Action Against Child Trafficking).
Partners: Albanian Roma UNION “Amaro-Drom” and Terre des Hommes Albania .
Time frame of project: June 2006- June 2009, third phase.
Goal: Enhancing role of Roma communities in the prevention of Child trafficking. |
The fight and prevention of human being trafficking is one of the most important and fundamental challenge in human rights field.
In frame of TACT III project between “Amaro-Drom” UNION and Terre des Hommes was signed an agreement on June 2006.
TACT III project implements a large scale anti child trafficking program in Albania and aims to establish an Albanian child protection mechanism through which Albanian children will be protected and secure of being exposed to trafficking, exploitation, or other kinds of abuse.
Amaro Drom Union, through its members, its community centers and their activities, plays an important role in building local capacities and in raising the level of citizenship and participation of the Roma community who is the most affected by child trafficking phenomenon.
TACT III and Amaro Drom work together in strengthening the child protection capacities and establishing a child protection structure in the Roma communities to complete the Albanian child protection mechanism.
This project is being implemented at the community level, through the collaboration of “Amaro Drom” UNION boards (local executive structures that are elected by the community) and Terre des Hommes local offices (Fier and Korça). TDH headquarter and “Amaro Drom” UNION offices are located in Tirana.
Through this collaboration, several activities are realized in different localities of Albania , which aim prevention of child trafficking phenomenon.
Preschool Education
It should be mention the contribution that has been given for the opening of one kindergarten for Roma children in Korça. This kindergarten was opened through the work and collaboration of many actors where two of them are TDH and “Amaro Drom.
50 Roma and non-Roma children frequent this kindergarten. They are divided in two groups due to their age. 20 children of this kindergarten have been enrolled in the first class for the academic year 2007-2008. “Amaro Drom” local staff in Korça, due to the collaboration with “Kristi” clinic has insured medical lab checks for free for all children also, Red Cross offers one meal for free. It has been increased the awareness of parents for bringing their children in the kindergarten, this due to the work of “Amaro Drom” local staff and TDH local office.
Parents have begun to see the kindergarten not only like a place where their children could spend their time but also like a place where their children could be secure, away from street and trafficking phenomenon. On 28 December 2007, a festive party was organized in “Small Flowers” kindergarten on the occasion of New Year Eve.
This activity was organized due to the support of Korça Municipality and Chairman Ms. Niko Peleshi, Terre Des Hommes's local office in Korça, “Amaro-Drom” local Staff, and particularly due to the contribute of children's parents. During the activity, Municipality chairman wished and gave presents to the children that frequent the kindergarten. The Municipality staff of Korça has thought to bring one Santa Claus to perform for children. Children and their parents were too much enthusiastic about everything that was organized that day.
Terre Des Hommes supported for the cocktail, decorations of kindergarten place etc. It should be mention that one of parents donated 15 toys which will be used from children that attend the kindergarten. Mothers, teachers and children were involved in preparing kindergarten decoration. That was a special day not only for the children but for all community who celebrated together.
This was not only an enjoyable activity for the children but it gave evidential messages for their parents about the importance of preschool education. Chairman of Municipality was satisfied for kindergarten's condition, material base, participation of mothers, fathers and community. This activity was transmitted at all local visual media of Korça. Ms. Johan. L. Withers, the Ambassador of USA in Tirana, visited “Small Flowers” kindergarten in Korça on February 29, 2008. This visit was made possible through Terre des Hommes office. Participators were also Mr. Thierry Agagliate (TDH delegate), representatives of TDH Local Office, USAID, “Amaro Drom”, etc.
The Ambassador visited the kindergarten area and said that was realised a good work for the establishment of appropriate conditions for well-being of children. He made a short conversation with children and advised them to learn and behave appropriately. The Ambassador wrote down a dedication in to impression's book, where he expressed his satisfaction of visiting children's beautiful kindergarten in his first visit in Korça. Furthermore he emphasized that it is much important the good work of supervisors, teachers and all staff for children progress in kindergarten.
Ms. Thierry Agagliate wrote down a dedication as well. He expressed that it was a honor for him the accompaniment of “Amaro Drom” in this social and educative initiative for Roma Community. This kindergarten is a great example of good collaboration between Roma and non-Roma NGO, also between the civil society and the government.
Ms. Skender Veliu, executive director of “Amaro Drom” thanked the Ambassador for the honor and the respect that he had done to Roma Community making this visit. He was the first ambassador that visited Roma community of Korça.
Meanwhile, the Ambassador said that he was very happy making this visit and hopped that this was not his last visit. He was very contented with the hospitality and with the good work that was done in the kindergarten. He hopped that such initiatives could continue in the future emphasizing the importance that education has
Opening of Levan Kindergarten.
The good example of Korça kindergarten was followed with the initiative of opening a kindergarten in Levan/ Fier. The celebration was made on 18. 02. 2008.
The realization of this initiative was made possible through the collaboration between TDH, Levan Commune and Roma UNION “Amaro Drom”. The opening of this kindergarten was a request that came from Roma community of Levan and it was a necessity for this community because a considerable number of children didn't frequent the public kindergarten as it was in a long distance from their residence.
The non-attendance of kindergarten is a barrier in following-up of other educational levels.
The opening of this kindergarten was welcomed and Roma Community of Levan was looking forward to it. The large number of community members during the celebration was the evidence of community happiness for this kindergarten.
There was created a festive atmosphere, this due to the beautiful sounds of Roma music. During the inauguration where presents: TDH staff Tirana office and local office, “Amaro Drom” staff of Tirana and Fier, Commune chairman, Roma community of Levan etc.
Until now there are 35 children enrolled in this kindergarten. All children till now are from Roma Minority. This kindergarten is functioning in accordance with public kindergartens program of Ministry of Education. The school time during that children attend lessons in the kindergarten is from 8 00 to 12 00 , from Monday to Friday. The children that frequent this kindergarten belong to the age group of 3-6 years and all of them have never been enrolled in another kindergarten.In general, parents wished to bring their children in kindergarten but there are some cases unwilling at the beginning; but they have change idea due to the work and insistence of “Amaro Drom” local staff.
Summer Champs
Summer camps for children are another important kind of activities that have been organized during summer 2007. These summer camps were organized in: Tiranë, Levan, Baltëz and Novoselë. The proposal of these project ideas was made from Local “Amaro Drom” staff, which made a good awareness work with children's parents in order to allow their kids to frequent these summer camps.
Goal of realizing summer champs- To attract children in activity area to spend their free time in entertainment; to get them away from bad habits like: smoking, alcohol, drugs; prevent trafficking and provide them with educative, didactic and cultural knowledge.
Implementing summer champs fulfilled the following Objectives:
1. Taking children away from the street through activities and games.
2. Giving much more possibilities for education and entertainment to the children.
3. Provide information about trafficking protection or other kinds of abuses.
4. Integration of Roma children with non-Roma children.
5. Provide psycho-social treatments and sports activities.
6. Taking Roma children away from street and exploitation.
7. Return willingness to attend school for that Roma children that have dropped school out.
8 April, Roma International Day
Another important activity for Roma community was International Roma Day Celebration on 8 April 2008.
The celebration of this activity was realized as never before. Different activities were organized.
Too many actors collaborated with each other for implementation of these activities, among them: Roma organizations, Terre des Hommes, Birra Tirana, “Mangalli” restaurant, etc.
The agenda of the activities began with a grandiose symposium where participated representative of different institutions, local government, Civil Society and Roma Minority from Tirana and from all over Albania. During that symposium, Roma culture and tradition was exhibited from talented musician, also different messages were displayed for the development and integration of Roma Community abreast majority society.
The activity continued with a peaceful demonstration along “Skenderbej” square. The children had placard with messages on their hands; also they offered flowers to occasional passersby. The final part of the activities was the presentation of a Roma youth delegation accompanied from member of “Amaro Drom” and “Romani Baxt” staff at highest Albanian Institutions where they met: the President of Republic, the Primer and the Speaker of the Parliament.
All the activities realized for the celebration of the International Day of Roma were made present at visual and written media.
May 2008,
Albanian Roma UNION
Amaro-Drom
